The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-07
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
SARAH EDWARDS HENsHAw.
OLD SerTLERs,


A cheerful, happy bride.
Love whispered fondly In mine ear,
JOY jotrncyed by my side,
And hone her sweetest music sung,
For life was fair aud was young,
Tha, portion of the sketch In last weeks
paper took US through the years Of bereave'
ment and suffering, and someShM after the
manner of The cyclone. The roar oi me
elements being hnshed. we heard plain'iVe
v,ice in musical chmings, as Of far distant
evening bells. II was the parting ole
There were bene lotions in its chimings, soft
and low, ~ from one "tired aud faint
We think as we listen, that we hear them
still
-" Blessings on thy gentle homes, Fair
vale
With loving signs say 1t DER,
Peace be uuOn thee eyermurc,
Home of my heart, farewell!
A ske,ching more elegant, a swee,er carol,
tenlerer parhos,
80 Valley Of The Illinois"
Win not soon again be penned in thy be
h.lf, an in remembrance OF thee
This may serve ~ hint in general
effectiveness IN Mrs. lensh,w, 1t was
a characteristic. In the family, as teacher
and example TO her children, in society, in
sica work ~ o ten falls to the lot OF woman,
undertaken for the common advantage, IN
the church, in its humane aud behehceit
work, in Sunday school and parish, TINS
readiness for any work, and tnct to take
hold of il with enthusiasm. was Signally
illustrated in the turbulent times Of the war;
The Ladies Aid Societies. OF that lime were
new thing, and with no precedents to
Guide, Instincts led the way, and for the
most part usefully. In Ottawa Mrs Hen
shaw was chosen secretary for correspond
ence. Il was through these business letters
that the attention Of gentlemen in Chicago
was directed to her as one likely to be help.
full at more central point. Accordingly,
Hon. Mark Skinner invited her TO Chicago,
and 10 consequence she, with three Others,
competent AM large hearted women, became
III a,soci ,te IN gers OF the sanitary Com
mission there. Tn .ir work VA. TO stimlltte
supplies, keep up an interest by letters, con
versation, newspaper writing, circulars, ahd
personal contact with influential persona.
IL cannot be told in this brief sketch no"
immense the work was, especially that con
nected with the great sanitary far, sug
gested by Mrs. Livcrmore, but which be
came effective by the management of others
Nv a wise method Mrs. Henshaw herself
secured an editorial co operation through all
North west, sending out between three ana
four bushels Of printed circular letters to
editors, and securing advertising that
reached nearly every home The great
North west poured out its gifts, and then It's
people to witness the immense collection
and TO purchase. More than one million OF
dollars in money and goods was distributed
BY the commission. The cultivated and nc
eomplished gent emen very prominent as
managers in the CO mmission, first, President
Judge Skinner, afterwards President Hon
T.. b. McCagg, Mr.. L. W. Biatchiord, treas
urer, invited Mrs. lIenshaw TO the hospi-
tally of their homes, and in this more init
mate social relation came more fully to ap
preciate her many ndmirabl' HdMllIes
From the first it was the quality and style
of her writing that led them to secure her
co .ope ration. Her letters, the good English,
the direnne,s. tbs sprightliness, the strong
grasp, tae clear cut thou sht, the high moral
tone, the soul in them, led them to make her
acquaintance, a stranger. Her manners
her department, her ready wit, aud earnest,
agreeable conversation made evident her
training and her association with cultivated,
refined and educated people, and won their
confidence and her place as guest in their
households These were not merely well
educated and " finished gentlemen In de
pertinent and st yle of life, but were fas'idi
Gus in taste and select in methods II was
therefore an honor and triumph of recog'
nized genius in her selection at the hrst'
How much greater after that when the war
was over, to have received from the then
president, Hon. L, Is. McCagg, the following
note
CHICAGO, March 1G, 1886. My DEAR
MIS-. HgSsuAw: The Northwestern SAM
tary Commission has completed the work
which called it into existence. and the time
seems to have come when the history of that
work should be written.
The members Of the Commission agree in
the hope that you will be willing to under
take IL.
We have on hand probably all the ma,
terial necessary, aud i. seems TO me that, II
you have the time, you may find II pleas
ant occupation Sincerely your friend,
f. b. MCCAGG.
The reply is characteristic;
Il. b. MCCAGG, RsQ-My Dear Sir; l
Was quite unprepared for your favor OF the
10th asking me TO write the history OF tho
work done by our branch Of the Sanitary
Commission.
While am sensible of the compliment
paid me. the greatness of the undertaking
makes me hesitate. Moreover, that story
should not BIO made mere statement OF